PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy hosted Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Paris Thursday as Europe reflects more and more openly on the prospect of recognizing an independent Palestine. Any French move to welcome a Palestinian state into the community of nations would be made jointly with the European Union, and would be seen as an attempt to give a jolt to the stalled Middle East peace process with Israel. Abbas said he is seeking Sarkozy's advice on the Palestinian Authority's drive to convince the world to accept its statehood even ahead of an ever elusive peace deal. Thus far, most world powers have been reluctant to recognize Palestine before it becomes a viable entity within agreed borders, but now some are starting to think recognition could revive the stalled search for peace. “It's a question we must reflect upon and upon which we are reflecting. It will be asked in September or October,” France's Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told reporters at a diplomatic lunch Tuesday. Juppe said France was working with its European Union partners to try to get Israelis and Palestinians “back around the negotiating table” and that this could lead to statehood recognition later this year. Sarkozy has himself been less forthcoming on the issue, and in January last year was careful to distance himself from his then Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's suggestion that France might unilaterally recognize Palestine.
